Making it through October is a rite of passage for a pharmacy technician. Fall is the busy time for vaccine administration; people come in by the thousands for flu shots, covid boosters, the new RSV vaccine along with shingles, tetanus and pneumonia vaccines.
In our small pharmacy, we could use four extra people for help processing vaccines: one to manage the line, one to type the vaccine prescriptions and bill insurance, one to administer the vaccines and one to answer phone calls from people asking questions about vaccines. We somehow manage to accomplish the extra workload with our same small crew, but it can be exhausting. There are times when we can’t keep up, and can only do waiters, and can’t get to everything in the queue right away.
It used to be that most vaccines were administered by doctors’ offices and county health departments, but in the late 90’s and early 2000’s pharmacies began to offer the service to the public. It is a new role of pharmacy technicians that in some states, technicians are allowed to administer vaccines. Even if you aren’t the one giving vaccines at your location, you should know the types of vaccines offered and the immunization schedules for those vaccines.
Common Vaccines for Adults
Flu (FLUZONE, FLUARIX) – changes each year depending on the strain of virus that is predicted to circulate. Offered in two different strengths: standard-dose for ages 6 months to 64 years and high-dose for ages 65 and older.
COVID-19 boosters (COMIRNATY by Pfizer & BioNTech, SPIKEVAX by Moderna, Novavax) – most recently updated in September/October 2023.
RSV (AREXY, ABRYSVO) – protects against lower respiratory virus. Single dose vaccine for ages 60 and over.
Shingles vaccine (SHINGRIX) – protects against the herpes zoster virus, a painful rash caused from the virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles is a two-dose series for ages 50 and older. Doses should be 2-6 months apart.
Tdap (BOOSTRIX) – protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. For children ages 11 or 12 (most students get the Tdap in 7th grade); adults should receive a Td or Tdap booster every 10 years.
Pneumococcal (PREVNAR 20, PREVNAR 23) – protects against pneumococcal pneumonia. For adults 65 or older, or younger people with certain medical conditions.
Keep in mind that working at a pharmacy you will be exposed to whatever illnesses are going around, so consider getting immunizations for yourself as well. You will build immunity one way or the other by the time October is over!